Dressed to Kill [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Kiss | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 15, 1997)
• Original Release Date: 1980
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Island / Mercury
• ASIN: B000001EKZ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (121 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,733 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

After the misstep of Hotter Than Hell, Kiss recaptures the energy of their first album and go one better with Dressed to Kill. Obviously the most well-known song off this album is "Rock and Roll All Nite," but there's a lot of other good material here as well, including the upbeat "Room Service," the groove-heavy "C'mon and Love Me," and the sensual "She." Though Kiss would not become superstars until their next album (that would be Destroyer), Dressed to Kill shows them headed in the right direction, having hit on the elusive formula of heavy chords, strong rhythms, and a determination not to take themselves too seriously. --Genevieve Williams

Product Description

The Top 40 LP they'd been waiting for, this 1975 LP got kids everywhere to Rock and Roll All Nite ! That crucial Kiss hit joins C'mon and Love Me; She; Love Her All I Can , and more of the best from their early prime!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars 1975: A Pivital Year For KISS May 2, 2000

By R. Gorham VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

THE BAND: Gene Simmons (Gene Klein), Paul Stanley (Stanley Eisen), Ace Frehley (Paul Frehley), Peter Criss (Peter Crisscoula).

THE DISC: Released 3/19/75. Recorded at Electric Lady Studios (NYC). 10 songs clocking in at approximately 32 minutes (amazingly short in this day and age... 8 of the 10 songs were under the 3 minute mark). A classic black and white photo of the band in their face paint and leisure suits standing on a NYC corner is simply classic (not to mention Peter's buck saddle shoes and Gene's clogs). Originally released on Casablanca Records in 1975; this remastered edition was released in 1997 on Mercury's label. Much improved sound in my book (deeper bass guitars and crisper highs). Liner notes are slim - a 2 page fold out with song titles, writing credits and times. Underneath the disc on the inside cover, there's an informative 5 paragraph history of what the band was going through at the time.

COMMENTS: "Dressed To Kill" was the band's 3rd album in 13 months. Where I have a hard time listening to Kiss' 1973 debut and "Hotter Than Hell" (due to a very slow/labored feel to the songs and extremely poor sound production), I have absolutely no problem sitting down and listening to "Dressed To Kill" for repeated spins. Neil Bogart was at the helm for "Dressed To Kill" (Kiss' first 2 albums were produced by Ken Kerner and Richard Wise)... maybe that's the main difference. The band's first big hit is here - "Rock & Roll All Nite" - and it's a worthy anthem for our youth (even 30 years later). The song symbolized the inimitable relationship between Kiss and their hardcore fans. But, the deeper tracks on "Dressed" are totally captivating. The fast paced "Room Service", "Getaway", and "Love Her All I Can" simply don't let up.... The slower songs like the now classic "She", "Two Timer" and "Ladies In Waiting" are all Gene Simmons penned songs about the opposite sex (surprised?). Still, their beats are unforgettable. And perhaps the most daring song, "Rock Bottom" with it's delicate acoustic intro, mixes the soft and hard side of Kiss. 4 songs from this album made it to the infamous "Alive!" album released in the same year. 1975 was a pivital year for Kiss - their unique brand of music entertainment was in high demand, but Kiss was shut out of major concert tours because they routinely performed better than the top-billed acts. Greater things were to come in the same year with "Alive!" being released - catapulting them into rock stardom. I love "Dressed To Kill" and it is easily my favorite "early" Kiss. Read more ›

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Underappreciated Masterpiece From A Truly Timeless Band March 10, 2000

By Taxl Rose

Format:Audio CD

All the people who say Kiss was not talented, that they were for 9-14 year old boys, who dismissed them as a joke, I wonder if they've noticed that Kiss is still selling millions of albums after over 25 years of the best. This album is really a great piece of music. Paul Stanley shines throughout, but especially on Room Service, Rock Bottom, C'mon and Love Me and Anything FOr My Baby. Gene is his usual outstanding self on Two Timer, Ladies In Waiting, and She, possibly the heaviest song the band ever recorded. Peter Criss' drumming is good as always and his lead vocal on "Getaway" is really cool. Ace's guitar playing is what makes the album, though. He is the greatest guitarist ever born and he gets so little respect. But the crown jewel is "Rock And Roll All Night", an ageless anthem that will play on throughout the next millenium. And now that Kiss has decided to call it quits, their music and impact on the world will stand undiminished and live on through the ages at truly the greatest and most influental band ever.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Suit alore!!! September 8, 2007

By R. Recchia

Format:Audio CD

I love the suits that Kiss are wearing on the cover. I think they should have worn them on tour. Ace Frehley has never looked better...before or since! Okay, on to my review...

Dressed To Kill seemed to have the opposite problem that the first two Kiss records had....both of those albums had great, great songs, but were badly recorded, and the band sounded a bit sloppy on them. Dressed To Kill, however, has a terrific sound (especially the guitars) and the band sounds much tighter, but the songs...for the most part...aren't as consistently good..or great. The first three songs are filler..at least to me, even though for filler, they're still not that bad. Very rock and roll oriented, good solid drumming and the lyrics, about getting good room service and two timing women, and ladies who are waiting in the ladies room for you, are what one would expect on a KISS album. I must say though that 'Room Service' may be one of the weakest lead off songs on a Kiss album. Of the next two Gene songs, I would say 'Two Timer' is the better of them, due mainly on the strength of it's bridge.

Things finally start to pick up (and how!) with Frehley's 'Getaway', one of my favorite songs of his. I particularly like Gene's bass wandering but melodic bass line during the verses. Catchy riff, short, but brilliant solo and a cool vocal from Peter. 'Rock Bottom' has acoustic guitars making their debut on a Kiss album during Frehley's instrumental intro. I do prefer the version of this from Alive better...they shorten the intro and the song just sounds tougher and meaner. I also prefer the live version of 'C'Mon and Love Me', because Paul's vocal is more meaty on it. Still, this is a damn catchy song and this version is still quite listenable.... I particularly love the lead guitar playing, some of which is done by Paul.

Of the rest...Gene likes the song 'Anything For My Baby' because he thinks Paul sounds like a man on it! I must say that Paul's vocals did improve on this album. I also think Paul was improving as a song writer around this time. Short on material, Gene and Paul dug into their Wicked Lester catalogue for the next two songs, 'She' and 'Love Her All I Can'. The latter is my favorite tune on the album...both Peter and Ace really wail on this song on their respective instruments. And...well, you've heard the last song, right? Once again, I like the version from Alive better...and I also love the way Ace sings the first part of the second verse on MTV Unplugged!

It is a very short album...the whole thing only clocks in at around 30 minutes, but you know, it's quality over quantity. Look at Hot In The Shade...that's about an hour long and has only three or four really good songs on it. Dressed To Kill is a way cool Kiss album. ROCK AND ROOOOOLLL!! Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A Sentimental Smile for the fans, but not a great album November 25, 2012

By John Emm

Format:Audio CD

My KISS fan life goes back as far as anyone's, but after reading all the 5-star reviews I just needed to offer a few words to the rest of the reading public who are not already devoted to the group.

This is a mediocre collection that has crisp production, short, tight songs, and a handful of great tunes interspersed with hack, tossed-off filler. KISS have even said as much themselves. They were under the gun and wrote at least half of this album in the studio, just prior to each day's recording session. (See the interesting book "Behind the Mask" by David Leaf and Ken Sharp, which I've re-read a dozen times).

I am always impressed by how much opinions differ as to which songs are the great ones. Many reviewers have hailed "Ladies in Waiting" as one of the album's best, but I side with those who say it is DREADFUL. Gene sounds as though he's impersonating Popeye the Sailor and the lyrics are gross and embrarassing. "The meat looks good tonight?" Yeesh.

But, you know, this band has a great and successful history, and after all I certainly didn't get into any recording studios over the past 35 years.

I agree there are some real gems in here, but I also agree with anyone who says most of them sound a LOT better on "Alive!" If you're not already devoted to KISS the album you should buy first is "Alive!"

The one bit of music you won't get anywhere else is the extended introduction to "Rock Bottom" that I think is just sensational.

That's why I'm buying the remastered disc after everything else I've just said. ;)